Hardy Nickerson

Hardy Nickerson
No. 54, 56
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	September 1, 1965 (age 59); Compton, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	233 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:	Verbum Dei (Los Angeles, California)
College:	California (1983–1986)
NFL draft:	1987 / round: 5 / pick: 122
Career history
	As player: Pittsburgh Steelers (1987–1992); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993–1999); Jacksonville Jaguars (2000–2001); Green Bay Packers (2002); As coach: Chicago Bears (2007) (LB); Bishop O'Dowd HS (CA) (2010–2013) (HC); Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014–2015) (LB); San Francisco 49ers (2016) (LB); Illinois (2017–2018) (DC/LB); Bishop O'Dowd HS (CA) (2022–present) (HC);
Career highlights and awards
	"Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year (1997); 2× First-team All-Pro (1993, 1997); 2× Second-team All-Pro (1996, 1999); 5× Pro Bowl (1993, 1996–1999); NFL combined tackles leader (1993); NFL 1990s All-Decade Team; First-team All-Pac-10 (1985); 2× Second-team All-Pac-10 (1984, 1986); NFL record Most combined tackles in a season: 214 (1993);
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:
Total tackles:	1,586
Sacks:	21.0
Forced fumbles:	19
Fumble recoveries:	14
Interceptions:	12
	Player stats at PFR

Hardy Otto Nickerson Sr. (born September 1, 1965) is an American former professional football player and coach. He played as a linebacker for four teams over 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1987 to 2002. He played college football for the California Golden Bears. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 1987 NFL draft.^[1] Nickerson spent the prime of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The hiring of head coaches Sam Wyche and Tony Dungy allowed him to play in the middle in a 4–3 defense for both coaches; Nickerson played in a 3–4 defense with the Steelers. While playing in the 4–3, he went to five Pro Bowls,^[2] and was selected for the National Football League 1990s All-Decade Team.